City of Peterborough

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Scope note(s)

  • Early sketches and drawings of Peterborough are located in the following fonds: 83-1022 copy of an 1828 sketch by Basil Hall made with the Camera Lucida; 95-1004 unknown engraving [Bartlett?] 1882; 95-1017 sketch of Government House by Mary Sanford 1832 (copy); 02-1002 composite panorama of Ashburnham from St. John's Church ca. 1874 (a representation produced in 2001); 89-1065 Peterborough, U.C. on the Otonabee River signed
  • Special Collections maintains an impressive collection of books relating to the City of Peterborough. The "Trent Collection" contains all the obvious published histories such as _Peterborough, Land of Shining Waters; Peterborough Scrapbook...1825-1975_ Poole's _A Sketch of the Early Settlement...of the Town of Peterborough_ ; Jones' and Dyer's _Peterborough the Electric City_ and Guillet's _Valley of the Trent_. These titles represent only the most obvious sources; all of these (and many more) are catalogued on [Omni](https://www.trentu.ca/omni) and are available, for reference use only, in our Reading Room.
  • We also hold many idiosyncratic items in the [pamphlet collection](https://archives.trentu.ca/index.php/pamphlet-collection), in the [map collection](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/maps) and in the vertical unpublished [research files](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/vertical_research_files). Also pertinent to the study of Peterborough are all the extant [newspapers for the area which are available on microfilm](https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives/newspapers). In addition, various citizens of Peterborough have written historical columns for newspapers. We have the papers here in the archives for some of these authors. Their research files and copies of their columns can be a rich source of information. See, for example, the papers of [Helen Marryat](https://archives.trentu.ca/index.php/69-001), [Richard Choate](https://archives.trentu.ca/index.php/86-027), [Howard Pammett](https://archives.trentu.ca/index.php/77-010) and [Wilson Craw](https://archives.trentu.ca/index.php/86-003).
  • One important source of information on Peterborough often overlooked is the "Dobbin Index." Francis H. Dobbin was a journalist working in Peterborough from 1864 until 1914. During this time he collected news items and also wrote brief descriptive essays. These are catalogued (F 5547 .P4D622) and are available to researchers in our Reading Room. Some of his longer pieces were published posthumously as Our Old Home Town. It too is catalogued (F 5547 .P4D6) and can be accessed in the Reading Room.
  • The subject headings for the "Dobbin Index" of newspaper references, synopses, notes and essays are: 1. Introduction 2. Biographies 3. Churches 4. Education 5. Events 6. Fires 7. Industries 8. Institutions and Societies 9. Military 10. Municipal 11. Politics 12. Railway 13. Trent Canal
  • It was in May of 1819 that the first settlers came to the region in Newcastle District which is now known as Peterborough. One of these settlers was Adam Scott (1796-1838), and he built a saw and grist mill on the west bank of the Otonabee River (at the location were King St. now crosses the river). This location, then known as Scott's Plains, was to become the City of Peterborough. The area had been previously surveyed by Samuel Wilmot in 1818, and at that time, he recommended to the surveyor general that land be set aside for the development of a town at the junction of Smith, Douro, North Monaghan and Otonabee Townships, along the shores of the Otonabee River. In 1825, the recommended townsite was surveyed again by Richard Birdsall and the creation of a town plan was undertaken. From 1819 to 1825, the only inhabitants of Scott's Plains were Adam Scott's family and a few hired men. This changed with the arrival of the Peter Robinson immigrants in 1825 who numbered close to 2,000 people. Many of them settled in the townships surrounding Scott's Plains, which was renamed in 1826, to Peterboro by Sir Peregrine Maitland, in honour of Peter Robinson. By 1827, there were 20 buildings located within the townsite, and in the summer of 1828, another 20 houses were built. Shops, taverns, schools and churches began to sprout within the town boundaries. Timber, and then lumber, dominated the Peterborough industrial base from 1825 to 1875. But this was not the only form of industry. Peterborough also had a tannery, three iron foundries, and several woolen and grain mills. The location of Peterborough along the shores of the Otonabee was extremely important in the development of Peterborough as a manufacturing centre. The river provided not only water power, but a means of transportation for both people and goods. In 1890, Edison Electric, later known as Canadian General Electric, set up a plant in Peterborough, and by 1892, it became the site of the CGE head office for Canadian Operations. In 1900, Quaker Oats also came to Peterborough. Not only did Quaker employ a substantial number of people, they also used locally grown grains in the production of their cereals. The period between 1875 and 1930 was one of rapid industrial growth in Peterborough. As well, the population was constantly increasing. In 1838, the population was between 800 and 900, and by the 1852 census, it had risen to 2,191. In 1871 it had increased to 4,611 and it became necessary for Peterborough to annex land from the surrounding townships. In 1872, 239 acres were annexed from Smith, 50 acres from Douro, and 581 acres from North Monaghan. After the annexation, the population was close to 7,000 inhabitants. Peterborough officially became a city in 1904 and continued to grow and by 1921, the population had increased to 21,000.

Source note(s)

    Display note(s)

      Hierarchical terms

      City of Peterborough

        Equivalent terms

        City of Peterborough

          Associated terms

          City of Peterborough

            15 Archival description results for City of Peterborough

            15 results directly related Exclude narrower terms
            05-001 · Fonds · 1958-1991

            Fonds consists of financial records, annual reports, minutes of Board meetings, 2 photographs, and printed programs relating to the Peterborough Women's Christian Association (YWCA).

            Young Women's Christian Association
            97-002 · Fonds · [1930]-1993

            This fonds consists of Young Women's Christian Association scrapbooks from 1976-1993, and a photograph of the YWCA swim club "The Silver Finnettes" from the 1930's. Also included are several identified and unidentified photographs of YWCA staff and volunteers, and of buildings. There are also slides of the staff, and miscellaneous slides.

            Young Women's Christian Association
            85-001 · Fonds · 1908-1983

            This fonds consists of records relating to the history, administration and programs of the Peterborough Young Women's Christian Association (Y.W.C.A.).

            Young Women's Christian Association
            W.T.C. Boyd fonds
            01-019 · Fonds · 1878-1917

            Fonds consists of 27 diaries of William Thornton Cust Boyd dated 1878 through 1917. Five of the diaries, 1884-1888, include financial records. The diaries recount the private and public life of Boyd, and include references to his wife, Meta, and their children, and social activities with family and friends including boating excursions and picnics. He refers throughout to Richard Birdsall Rogers (1857-1927), superintending engineer of the Peterborough Lift Lock, in social and business terms, and the two often conduct business relating to the Trent Valley Canal. Activities which Boyd participated in regularly include yachting and boating (on the "Calumet", "Ogemah", and "Ajax"), curling, hunting, gardening, tree planting, playing cards, skating, canoeing, and attending the theatre. He recounts details of the illnesses, deaths and funerals of acquaintances and family members, including his step-brother, Mossom (Mossie) Martin Boyd. Boyd recounts in detail the building of his house by John E. Belcher ([184-]-1915), architect, civil engineer, and surveyor. This house is now operated as Case Manor Nursing Home. The diaries speak of local and federal politics, World War I, and the activities of the church. They also detail the activities of the Lindsay, Bobcaygeon and Pontypool Railway Company, the Trent Valley Navigation Steamship Company, and the day-to-day operation of the family lumbering and cattle/buffalo enterprises.

            Boyd, W.T.C.
            77-034 · Fonds · 1874-1965

            The fonds of the Peterborough Cricket Club consists of scorebooks of the club (G. Whitaker Company Cricket Club) 1937-1954; 1965, as well as photographs of players and matches. Also included are newspaper clippings and rule books. Amongst the cricketeers is Richard B. Rogers.

            Peterborough Cricket Club
            97-1033 · Collection · 1975-1976

            This collection consists of copies of the agendas and minutes of the first eight meetings of the Steering Committee on Bikeways. Also included are a 1975 Peterborough Bikeway Report (which includes a proposed bicycle trail map), correspondence, etc.

            Peterborough Bikeways
            Paul Wilson fonds
            03-007 · Fonds · 1966-2001

            Fonds consists of correspondence, photographs, compact disks, publications, and other materials related to Paul Wilson's association with Trent University as athletic director, and as municipal politician in the City of Peterborough, Ontario.

            Wilson, Paul S.B.
            82-017 · Fonds · 1980

            The fonds consists of the final report (2 copies) and 1 copy of appendices of the Ontario Summer Games held in Peterborough 1980. Professor Peter Adams of Trent University was chairman of the 1980 Ontario Summer Games Committee. Also included are committee reports, promotion and media materials.

            Ontario Summer Games (1980)
            05-1002 · Collection · 1981; 1984

            Collection consists of an audio cassette tape and transcript of an interview with William G. Towns of Douro, Ontario, conducted by Professor Alan Brunger on 27 October 1981. Also included is an audio cassette tape of an interview with William Telford of Smith Township, Ontario, on local recreation history, conducted by Elaine Boothman for Professor John Marsh's geography 334 course in October 1984.

            07-006 · Fonds · 1983-2007

            This addition to the fonds consists primarily of programs, newspaper clippings, and magazines relating to the Peterborough Petes Junior hockey team and the Ontario Hockey League. Also included are photographs (photocopies only) of Peterborough buildings taken by Marlow Banks between 1940 and 1997 and published as a series in the Peterborough Examiner.

            Banks, Marlow
            88-013 · Fonds · 1987-2004

            This addition to the fonds consists of programs and clippings regarding the Peterborough Petes hockey teams, 1987-1988 season plus records from the 1988-1989, 1990-1991 and 1991-1992 seasons which were added.

            Banks, Marlow
            97-006 · Fonds · 1956-2000

            This fonds consists of programmes, annual reports, a memorial certificate for the 90th anniversary of the Lyceum Club and signed by Peter Adams, photos of club events and award winners, etc., administrative papers, a scrapbook, and Rug Group log books.

            Lyceum Club and Women's Art Association of Peterborough
            Kanawa Canoe Museum fonds
            84-013 · Fonds · 1980-1983

            This fonds consists of minutes and correspondence of the Trent-Kanawa's Canoe Museum Committee concerning the feasibility study for the canoe museum.

            Kanawa Canoe Museum
            John Marsh fonds
            03-002 · Fonds · 1971-1999

            Fonds consists of materials relating to conferences, colloquiums, and workshops in which Professor John Marsh was involved, and to courses taught by Professor Marsh at Trent University. Also included is miscellaneous correspondence, and reports, submissions, papers, articles, and books written by and edited by Professor Marsh. Included in the fonds are four photographs and six cassette tapes.

            Marsh, John
            96-001 · Fonds · 1930-1990 ; predominant 1952-1959

            This addition to the fonds consists of bird spotting forms for the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas and Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas error forms. Also included in the fonds are numerous publications and newsletters from various naturalist clubs across Ontario.

            Sadler, Douglas